Treasure Island

steadily,dipping her bowspritTHE VOYAGEnow and then with a whiff ofspray. All was drawing alow and aloft; every one was inthe bravest spirits,because we were now so near an end ofthe first part of our adventure.Now, just after sundown, when allmy work was over,and I was on my way to my berth, itoccurred to me that Ishould like an apple. I ran on deck. The watch was allforward looking out for the island. The man at the helmwas watching the luff of the sail, and whistling away gentlyand that was the only sound excepting the swishto himself;of the sea against the bows and around the sides of the ship.In I got bodily into the apple barrel, and found therewas scarce an apple left; but, sittingdown there in the dark,what with the sound of the waters and the rocking movementof the ship,I had either fallen asleep,or was on the pointof doing so, when a heavy man sat down with rather a clashclose by.it,The barrel shook as he leaned his shoulders againstand I was just about tojump up when the man began tospeak. It was Silver's voice, and, before I had heard adozen words, I would not have shown myself for all theworld, but lay there, trembling and listening,in the extremeof fear and curiosity; for from these dozen words I understoodthat the lives of all the honest men aboard dependedupon me alone. [79]